Factors associated with survival and neurologic outcome after in-hospital cardiac arrest in children: A cohort study

AIM: In-hospital paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) survival has been improving in high-income countries. This study aimed to analyse factors associated with survival and neurological outcome after paediatric CPR in a middle-income country. METHODS: This observational study of in-hospital cardiac arrest using Utstein-style registry included patients <18 years old submitted to CPR between 2015 and 2020, at a high-complexity hospital. Outcomes were survival and neurological status assessed using Paediatric Cerebral Performance Categories score at prearrest, discharge, and after 180 days. RESULTS: Of 323 patients who underwent CPR, 108 (33.4%) survived to discharge and 93 (28.8%) after 180 days. In multivariable analysis, lower survival at discharge was associated with liver disease (OR 0.060, CI 0.007–0.510, p = 0.010); vasoactive drug infusion before cardiac arrest (OR 0.145, CI 0.065–0.325, p < 0.001); shock as the immediate cause (OR 0.183, CI 0.069–0.486, p = 0.001); resuscitation > 30 min (OR 0.070, CI 0.014–0.344, p = 0.001); and bicarbonate administration during CPR (OR 0.318, CI 0.130–0.780, p = 0.01). The same factors remained associated with lower survival after 180 days. Neurological outcome was analysed in the 93 survivors after 180 days following CPR. Prearrest neurological dysfunction was observed in 31.4%, and neurological prognosis was favourable in 79.7% at discharge and similar after 180 days. CONCLUSION: In-hospital paediatric cardiac arrest patients with complex chronic conditions had lower survival associated with liver disease, shock as cause of cardiac arrest, vasoactive drug infusion before cardiac arrest, bicarbonate administration during CPR, and prolonged resuscitation. Most survivors had favourable neurological outcome.